Work Time Versus Time Off

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The CA has been on the case of certain judges concerning the amount of time they are working versus their time off. While this criticism seems to be justified it also applies to the City of Memphis, Shelby County and most other public employees.

First look at the salaries of the various officials we are currently voting on.

MAYOR

$142,500

ASSESSOR

$108,617

REGISTER

$107,975

TRUSTEE

$107,975

COUNTY CLERK

$107,975

CHANCERY COURT CLK

$117,453

CIRCUIT COURT CLERK

$117,453

CRIMINAL COURT CLERK

$117,453

GENERAL SESSIONS COURT CLERK

$117,453

JUVENILE COURT CLERK

$117,453

PROBATE COURT CLERK

$117,453

JUDGES

$167,686

I am conflicted in my opinion about judges. I am very much in favor of term limits. I think the people should elect the judges but it should be for a one time period of 8 years and then they should go back to their law profession. They should be well paid but earn no long term pensions in their eight year term. The idea of other politicians appointing them does not sit well with me.

Now as to how much time they presently work you have to look at similar personnel policies of the City and the County. You will see that with 15 years of service, City and County employees get 30 sick days, 20 vacation days, 4 bonus days and 11 holidays. This is 65 days per year or 25% of the year that they could be off. Compare this to the private sector which averages 46 days per year or less.

The after 25 years of service the City and the County employees could be off 70 days per year (5 weeks of vacation rather than 4).

This is the area that needs to be reformed in the judicial system and the City and the County and cut down to the private sector average. This could save $10 to $20 million dollars per year at the City and the County and the Court system and make the tax payers feel that they are paying for work rather than time off. Also more time on the job would mean fewer public employees leading to a smaller pension and health care burden.

Judges should not be excluded from putting in a 40 hour Plus work week just like the rest of us working folks. Get out and vote and let you voices be heard.

One Response to “Work Time Versus Time Off”

Being a judge should be an honor–not an entitlement. We would all be better off, in my opinion, if really, really good lawyers would run for judge as the capstone (final lap) of their careers. Eight years is really too long. Four is plenty. We should never, never trust lawyers and judges to do our job of selection of judges for us. Lawyers and judges are already a very, very powerful special interest group.